Seven priceless items retrieved from the wreck site of RMS Titanic are going to be retired from public view and returned to the conservation facility following a 3-month special engagement at Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor Hotel & Casino in Vegas. Beginning April 15, 2016, 104 years after Titanic hit an iceberg within the Atlantic and sank, taking the lives of just 1,523 travellers and crew, and nearly 3 decades after the organization first introduced items from the wreck site to the surface, these priceless treasures are going to be displayed for the final time.
?The Titanic disaster is one of the most remarkably heartbreaking moments in our collective history,? said Alexandra Klingelhofer, Vice President of Collections for Premier Exhibitions, Inc. ?As Salvor-in-Possession of Titanic?s wreck site, we are keenly aware that our first obligation is to preserve its precious remains to ensure that its legacy can live on for generations. That duty requires us to remove seven of these historical treasures from our travelling artifact collection and return them to long term monitored conservation.?
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Tickets
The items, including textiles, personal goods and paper documents, have formerly been on display all over the world included in Premier?s Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. They’ll be shown for a limited engagement in the biggest permanent exhibition of Titanic items at Luxor Hotel & Casino in Vegas through July 18, 2016. They’ll then be returned to the Premier Exhibitions conservation facility and set in long term supervised conservation, remaining open to historians, archaeologists and other qualified scientists.
?While many glass, metal and ceramic items remained relatively intact when the wreck site was found in 1985, textiles and paper products are incredibly rare, as they usually deteriorate in the marine environment. In Titanic?s situation, although fragile artifacts were exposed to the harsh undersea environment that exists 2.5-miles below the surface of the Atlantic, textiles and paper documents were recovered and conserved,? continued Klingelhofer. ?Textiles and paper goods that were recovered survived because they had been contained within tanned leather luggage, bags or wallets at a generally stable temperature. After 20 years of rotating display we have determined these seven fragile pieces of history must be returned to the collections storage so they can be preserved for future research and interested generations to come.?
?It is an honor to serve as the Salvor-in-Possession of the Titanic wreck site, and owner and trustee of the vast and impressive collection of its recovered artifacts,? said Daoping Bao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. ?Preserving these seven artifacts for future generations so that we can continue to tell Titanic?s story is of the utmost importance and something we are passionately dedicated to.?
July 18, 2016 will be the final opportunity to see:
? Declaration of Intention Form: 2nd class passenger Franz Pulbaum, a machinist originally from Germany, clearly intended to become a U.S. citizen upon his return to New York City. He had been on a business trip to Luna Park amusement park in Paris. The form would have been used to allow him a smooth disembarkation. Pulbaum?s signature and personal information is still legible on the naturalization form. Pulbaum never became a U.S. citizen, he went down with Titanic.
? White Star Line Receipt for ?One canary in Cage?: Recovered from Marion Meanwell?s alligator purse, this small receipt fragment appears to confirm that 3rd class passenger, Mrs. Meanwell (nee Mary Ann Ogden), a milliner from Eastbourne Sussex, England agreed to transport a relative?s canary from Southampton to Cherbourg. Additional information suggests that Chief Purser Hugh Walter McElroy took responsibility for the bird, while transport payment was provided by Mrs. Meanwell.
? Cotton Pajamas: This pair of men?s pajamas is made of white cotton with blue stripes. No maker marks were found, they are a size medium with button shirt and drawstring bottoms. The deterioration around the neck and body appear to reflect normal wear and tear.
? Pair of Gloves: This degraded pair of cotton gloves was originally white and probably belonged to a gentleman. They are still attached at the cuff, so they had not yet been worn. The gloves were recovered from a suitcase containing unmarked pajamas, jackets, and other clothing.
? Waiter’s Pad Blank Page: Waiters from the exclusive ? la carte restaurant on board would jot down lunch and dinner orders on pads such as this for the chefs to prepare in the galley. Unlike the First Class Dining Saloon, which cooked in larger quantities, the ? la carte restaurant prepared each individual meal to order.
? Pair of Socks: This is one of three pairs of cotton and silk socks recovered from a single suitcase. These were neatly folded by the owner for his Titanic journey. While the clothing in this passenger?s suitcase was of good quality, these socks have been darned in several places, showing a thrifty character as well.
? Left Shoe: This men’s leather shoe fragment consists of the welt, top cap and partial quarter with the insole. Attesting to the meticulous care under which all artifacts are conserved, this shoe has never been previously exhibited due to its fragile condition. This will be its first and only time on public display.
All seven soon-to-be retired artifacts will be put on display at Luxor Las Vegas on April 15, 2016, the 104th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. They will be housed in a special conservation case where visitors to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition can view them until their retirement this summer.
Dedicated to preserving Titanic?s legacy, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition takes guests on an emotional journey through the life of the legendary ship. Along the way, visitors learn countless stories of heroism and humanity, paying tribute to the indomitable force of the human spirit in the face of tragedy.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor Hotel & Casino is open daily from 10 a.m. ? 10 p.m. with the last admission at 9 p.m.
In addition to Las Vegas, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is open in Orlando, Florida; Buena Park, CA; Jersey City, NJ; Prague (Czech Republic) and Linz (Austria)
For more information and ticket prices, please visit www.PremierExhibitions.com.
